HEAVY-ION BEAM PUMPED VISIBLE LASER

Heavy ion beam pumped laser action was observed in the visible spectral range. This result is encouraging for the potential development of shorter wavelength lasers pumped by heavy ion beams. The laser operated on the 585.25-nm neon line in He-Ne-Ar, He-Ne-Kr, and He-Ne-Xe mixtures. The laser gas pressure was, typically, 800 hPa and the mixing ratio 92% He, 6% Ne, and 2% Ar (Kr,Xe). Quasicontinuous laser action was obtained using a chopped beam of 120-MeV Cl-35 ions for pumping. Preliminary spectroscopic studies of the laser medium show selective excitation of the 585.25-nm line.